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The expert, who is in Nebraska, hasn't given the defense attorney a price for the work

The attorney for a St. Clair County man charged in the 2014 murder of Armada teen April Millsap has two weeks to provide an estimate to a Macomb County judge for how much his cell phone expert plans to charge in the case.

Judge Mary Chrzanowski had granted $2,500 in fees for the expert, who was paid $8,000 to $10,000 for the www.Backpage.com murders case in Macomb County in which four women were killed and who also received more than $100,000 for a separate case in another state.

Chrzanowski said that if the expert is looking to get as much money as he can, “he’s found the wrong judge for that” during a pretrial today for James VanCallis, who is charged in the slaying of 14-year-old April.

VanCallis’ attorney, Azhar Sheikh, said he has asked his expert from Nebraska – who has not yet been paid anything – three times via different communication mediums for a price range but has not received one. Sheikh told Chrzanowski that the expert said he needs software.

Sheikh told the judge he is considering changing experts.

Sheikh is to receive possibly next week some additional cell phone data from the FBI that the expert wanted to review – a request that delayed the trial from this month to Jan. 12.

Attorneys are to return to court Nov. 2 regarding what the cell phone expert is planning to charge.

VanCallis, 33, of Wales Township is charged with first-degree murder, felony murder, kidnapping and assault with intent to commit sexual penetration in April's death in July 2014 along the Macomb Orchard Trail. April was found dead along the trail July 24. VanCallis was charged in October 2014.

April died from blunt head trauma and asphyxia due to neck compression. Police believe VanCallis attacked April with his motorcycle helmet, dragged her into the woods and stomped on her.

Sheikh has said the case is circumstantial and "all about cell phone activity." He said last week that there is no DNA, no fingerprints and no eyewitnesses in the case.

Prosecutors today expressed concern about VanCallis possibly wanting to dismiss Sheikh in the future or right before the trial would start, delaying it even more. However, VanCallis said in court today that he was “completely happy” with Sheikh’s services.